The US and China must resist the temptation to blame each other for the economic and political challenges facing each country when they meet at their Security and Economic Dialogue summit.
Diplomatic tensions between the two are high at present, despite the fact that Chinese dissident, Chen Guangcheng, was taken from the US embassy —where he had taken refuge after escaping from house arrest — to a hospital in Beijing. Chen is reported to have been taken there by the US ambassador, implying that there has been a ‘behind the scenes' deal to secure his safety.
While discretion is the hallmark of diplomacy, China must accept that its growing global economic and military might means that the international community will increasingly hold it to account for its domestic practices. Chinese leaders are aware that more social and political rights for its people are inevitable if the country is to maintain its rapid economic development.
For its part, the US must stop blaming China for much of its self-inflicted economic woes. China's alleged manipulation of its currency to boost exports is among the least of the economic problems of the US, especially since the country continues to debase the dollar by continuing to run up its deficit.
And, in the aftermath of the financial crisis that started in the US, consumers have been reluctant to spend, keeping the economy weak. While it is necessary that consumers and companies repair their finances, this will keep the economy vulnerable for some time. Also, many US industries, especially in manufacturing , are no longer globally competitive, in part because other countries, not only China, have better labour and other production costs.
The summit must be an opportunity for the two powers to work together to boost commercial opportunities and deal with their competing security interests in Asia, not to trade blame for self-inflicted problems.
